Game board



Aug. 29, 1933. s. WEISS GAME BOARD Filed Sept. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

S. WEISS GAME BOARD Aug. 29, 1933.

Filed Sept; 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet ,2

Patented Aug. 29,

UNITED STATES PATENT of the type in tors are ejected by a OFFICE GAM'E BOARD Sidney Weiss, St. Louis, Mo.

Application September 6, 1932. Serial No.

6 claiiiis. (o1. 273 121) The present invention relates to a game'board which a number of balls or counplunger or the like on to a field or surface provided with pins, obstructions,

to gauge the retraction thereof in making a play,

and to visually follow during ejectment, while surface and also during the the course of the balls passing over the playing return of the balls to starting and ejecting positions.

Another object of the invention is in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings,

wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts through the several views,

Figure 1 is a parts shown in section.

plan view of the game board with Figure 2 is a transverse section through the same substantially on the is a plan view line AA of Figure 1. of a slightly modified fied form with the plunger and spring in position. Figure 6 is a like view showing a still further modified form of the invention, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the board, showing the mounting of the ball guides or tracks thereon. Referring now to the drawings, and first to after appear.

The front end of the board is placed adjacent the player and the balls or counters are projected preferably from the front right hand corner as the frame 10 to provide a ball deflecting shoulder and a passage for a ball between the adjacent ends of the strips 0 and f.

The rear end of the guide strip 0 is curved or rounded away from the rear right corner of the board and terminates at b in spaced relation to the rear end at its end flat against the frame to direct returning balls into the return passage behind the strip 0. The strip 0 provides a ball projecting guide, the passage 01' the guide being defined beno curved guide and has parallel relation thereto. The strip d terminates at its rear end at substantially the commencement of the curvature of the rear end of the strip 0 and extends forwardly to the front end of the frame 10.

- A plunger g is mounted in the ejecting space between the strip (1 on one side and the strips 0 and on the other side. The plunger g has its stem slidably through the front of the frame 10 and has a spring 'm about the stem between the head of the plunger and the front of the frame 10. The spring m is of suitable size to hold the bottom ball h from falling behind the plunger when projected as shown in Figure. 1.

The surface or bottom ll of the board is provided with any suitable number of pockets 1 which may be curved, strips of" metal having prongs 3 penetrating the upper portion 2 of the bottom 11 as shown in Figure '7. Pins 13 or other obstructions may be mounted on the surface 11 about and between the pockets 1.

In playing, the rear end of the game board is slightly elevated to cause the balls e to roll forwardly in the magazine and rest on the shoulder of the strip I. The player may observe through the top panel 12 the positions of the balls. Watching the plunger g, the player retracts the same until the plunger passes the shoulder of the strip f whereupon the bottom ball 71. rolls into the ejecting passage in the path of the plunger. The plunger is now properly tensioned as skill dictates and the player releases the same. The ball is ejected against the guide 0 and deflected thereby onto the outer playing surface. If sufficient force is exerted by the plunger, the ball will strike the left rear guide strip i and will be directed forwardly toward the pin 13 and the pocket 1. The pockets may of course be given any suitable designations to admit of keeping a score. After the balls e leave the ball projecting guide 0 they advance, by either or both of the forms of projection and gravity, against and between the pins and into the pockets 1 when conditions are favorable. After the balls have been played, the game board is raised at its front end and the balls then gravitate toward the rear and are guided by the track or strip 1 through the space Io-b and behind the guide 0. By tilting the board forwardly again the-balls e are caused to roll into the magazine adjacent the plunger and in the starting position.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, the board structure is the same as in Figure l with the exception that the curved guide 1 has an extension as which is curved on a common radius with the guides i and c and which may be a separate strip from the guide i as shown. The extension guide :1: has an offset portion k providing a passage between the offset and the end b of the guide c through which the balls e may pass when being returned to the magazine.

Inthe modified form shown in Figure 4, the guide strip i" comprises a curved continuation of the guide strip c and terminates beyond the left corner of the board 9th in spaced relation to the adjacent marginal point k of the frame 10. In the form shown in Figure guide strip n is spaced along the right side of the frame and terminates at its rear end opposite the end of the thereat an outwardly turned flange 1 forming an abutment to prevent returning balls e from passing into the ejecting passage which, in the present form, lies adjacent V i to the side of the frame 10.

The strip n is spaced tween the strip 0 and a strip (1 which is in spaced at its forward end from the frame to accommodate the shoulder strip ;f reversely disposed from the structure of Figure 1 to accommodate the reversal of the ejecting and return passages. The inner guide strip p is short and extends from the front of the frame 10 to a point intermediate the ends of the strip n and provides a return space for balls between the rear end of the strip p and the flange 1. 1

The ball magazine lies between the strips n and p, and the balls e may first be rolled forwardly on the playing surface 11 and then toward the end of the guide p by tilting the board to gravitate the balls to the starting position.

Figure 6 shows a further modification wherein 9 the frame 10has a false front bar 1' extending in parallel relation to the front of the frame and spaced therefrom, the bar abutting the left side of the frame and having an inturned leg or spacer at its other end disposed in line with theguide strip 0. The plunger g with itsspring-m is adapted to move in the space provided by the inturned leg of the bar r. The guide strip 0 has an angular extension 0 at its forward end which extends parallel to and in spaced relation from the bar 1 to provide a magazine for the balls e and a return passage leading from the left front corner of the board. The guide extension 0 is spaced from the adjacent point k of the frame and'has a guard shoulder l to hold projected balls from entering the magazine until the play is completed.

In all forms of the invention the movements and operations of the balls and the plunger may be at all times kept under observation, and the balls cannot be projectedfrom the board. By holding the board in the hands, the balls may be easily returned from the playing surface 11, pockets 1 and pins 13 to the magazine by tilting the board in the right directions.

I claim:

1. A ball game comprising a playing surface bounded by side walls, a ball projecting guide adjacent but spaced from one boundary wall of the surface, a ball projecting plunger mounted inone end of the guide, said guide having a curved wall terminating short of the end of the surface opposite. the plunger, said curved wall and the adjacent boundary wall of the surface forming a passage for the return of played balls to a magazine adjacent the plunger.

2. A ball game comprising a playing surface bounded by side walls, a ball projecting guide adjacent but spaced from one boundary wall of the surface, a ball projecting plunger mounted in one end of the guide, said guide having a wall terminating short of the end of the surface opposite the plunger, said wall and the adjacent boundary wall of the surface forming a passage for the return of played balls to a magazine adjacent the plunger. 7

3. A ball game comprising a wholly enclosed playing surface mounted between two panels, at least one of which is transparent and bounded by side walls, and having a ball projecting guide adjacent but spaced from one boundary wall of the surface, a ball projecting plunger mounted in one end of the guide, said guide having a wall terminating short of the end of the surface opposite the plunger, said wall and the adjacent boundary wall of the surface forming a passaae for the return of played balls to a magazine adjacent the plunger. .7

4. A ball game comprising a playing surface bounded by side walls, a ball projecting guide they pass through having side walls approximately parallel to one of the boundary walls of the playing surface, a ball projecting plunger mounted in one end of the guide and an opening in one of the guide walls communicating with a ball 'retum guide which is also a magazine to hold the balls until said opening into the ball projecting guide in front of the ball projecting plunger, one wall of said ball return guide terminating short of one of the boundaries of the playing surface forming a passage for the return of played balls to the magazine.

5. A ball game comprising a wholly enclosed playing surface mounted between two panels, at least one of which is transparent and bounded by side walls and having a ball projecting guide having side walls approximately parallel to one of the boundary walls of the playing surface, a ball projecting plunger mounted in one end of the guide and an opening in one o! the guide walls communicating with a ball return guide which is also a magazine to hold the balls until they pass through said opening into the ball projecting guide in front of the ball projecting plunger, one wall of said ball return guide terminating short 01' one of the boundaries of the playing surface forming a passage for the return 01' played balls to the magazine.

6. A ball game comprising a board bounded by side walls, and having a playing surface with .ball receiving pockets thereon, a ball projecting chute 'onsaid board adjacent to but spaced from one boundary wall thereof, the space between the chute and the adjacent boundary wall constituting a ball magazine, a ball projecting plunger mounted in one end of the chute, said magazine having a ball exit opening leading to the chute at a point adjacent the plunger, said board having a curved guide wall guide wall having an opening therethrough affording a passageway through which played balls may be returned from the playing surface to saidmagazine upon tilting said board.

SIDNEY WEISS. 

